Buying a new rifle need advise

rblain · Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:35 pm Post subject: Buying a new rifle need advise

I'm new to this site and soon to be a new hunter. I'm looking for some direction as to what i should get. I already have a 30-30 which i will use for deer but not sure what caliber to use for Moose and Elk. I've narrowed it down to 300 win mag or a 30-06.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. I've handled various makes and models and I would say my price range is going to be middle of the road.
So far I like the Tikka T3 Lite.

Thanks

Rick

Donut Slayer

sounds like you have it nailed down. Good choice on rifle. As far as caliber goes, well I imagine it would depend if you reload of use just factory rounds. '06 would be alot cheaper, and isnt that much behind the 300. And you can find '06 everywhere. I guess the ol '06 gets my vote.

Pumpkinslinger

Sounds like you're on the right track on the rifle. Handle different ones and see which feels the best to you. Also be ready to get a GOOD scope, not a cheapy. Donut makes some good points about the .30-06 and the cartridge has proven itself for over 100 years now.

Elvis

yip thats a great point Donut slayer getting away for a hunt and needing to buy ammo of the shelf somewhere in the boonies the 30/06 would be a lot easier to find. its a heck of alot cheaper to run too. 110grn -220 grn projectiles it will handle whatever you want and if you ever want to sell it on probably easier to move on.

Aloysius

In my opinion, when you already have the 30-30 win, go for the .300 WM or even consider the .375 H&H. When you give it a try, you're going to discover that the .375 H&H, altough almost twice the energy compared to the .300 WM, will kick much less.

slimjim

rblain wrote:

So far I like the Tikka T3 Lite.

I have a .270 Tikka T3 Lite Stainless and love it! It has been very accurate with everything I feed it. Its very light to carry. If this is really a gun for Elk and Moose, why not consider a .338 Winchester Mag. It won't have the ammo selection of a .30-06 but it will have more knock-down power. Besides, I see too many .300 WSM sitting on the consignment shelf.

Take note, you will want to get a Limbsaver recoil pad to compensate for having such a beautifully light firearm. It was a remove and replace for me with some gasket material under the pad to take up the inset.

chambered221

Welcome to Hunting Nut !!!

I would let distance you'll typically take the game at help decide caliber.
If your average shot (be realistic ) is going to be under 200 yards there is nothing wrong with the 06. Beyond that the extra downrange energy of the WM would be good to have.

As for a particular gun..........most anything you buy new today will probably serve you well, however I tend to like and promote the Browning rifles.

Elvis

oops

sorry rblain where are our manners Embarassed

welcome aboard.
pull up a stump grab one of Vinces beers from the cooler and sit awhile.

Donut Slayer

Elvis wrote:

oops

sorry rblain where are our manners Embarassed

welcome aboard.
pull up a stump grab one of Vinces beers from the cooler and sit awhile.

cant grab one of Vince's beers, I just drank the last one. Ignore

Elvis

Donut Slayer..... off to the liqour store with you and dont forget your wallet.

Suzanne

Gettin to be a lot of cooler hugging stump jockies around here. Get some Gater-aid too, looks to be dehydration goin on in the latrine. Rblain looks to be a rather sophisticated agent of some sort, we gotta treat him right! (if he ever comes back)

Suz

Bushmaster · Last edited by Bushmaster on Sat Nov 13, 2010 9:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

rblain...You still with us? Or were you just a "flash in the pan"??

Go with the .30-06. You might even consider a Stevens (SAVAGE damnit SAVAGE) in that caliber. That way you might be able to afford a more expensive (read better) scope.

The .30-06 is more versitile then the .300. Cheaper too not to mention less punishing to the shooter. Factory ammunition is plentiful in a wide variaty of weights and styles from 110 grain up to 220 grain bullets.

rblain

I'm still here. I've been checkin in 4or 5 times a day. Just been sittin on my stump drinkin a beer absorbing everything you've all had to say. There a whole lot goin on trying to make this decision. I've compared both calibers and it seems to me that the real big difference is the foot pounds of energy that the 300 win mag has over the 30-06 round. I've stepped into Walmart and yes the ammo selection for the 06 has one over on the 300 win mag without a doubt.
This is an awesome site and your responses have been great, not like a couple of other forums i've been on. No sarcasm for the Newbie.

Thanks People

Rick

slimjim

rb, if you end up with a 30mm scope tube, go with WARNE rings for a Tikka. They are extremely solid. I didn't use the recoil pin and they haven't budged a micron.

Bushmaster

Vince refilled the cooler? Alright!! Good for Vince. Laughing

Now if only Gelandangan would bring some more wood. I got the chips. Laughing

Glad you're still hangin' out. We aren't always right, but we aren't often wrong either. We are a friendly bunch though... Very Happy